Board Game and Method of Play

ABSTRACT

The present device is a board game for playing a variety of pawn advancement games and comprises a playing board having a central game grid with surrounding borders of different colors. Each colored border has five areas: OUT, PLAY, YES, NO, and WINNERS. Each player is assigned to a colored border and is provided a spotted die for rolling, a numbered die for assigning, and at least one pawn. The player&#39;s border, dice, and pawns have matching colors. Each player has an objective to move their colored pawns across the game grid from the player&#39;s border to the last line of the game grid farthest away. Advancement of each pawn is determined by the rolled values of the spotted dice, the assigned values of the numbered dice, and switching of pawns. The first player moving all their pawns into their WINNERS area is declared the winner.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHTS AND TRADE DRESS

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. This patent document may showand/or describe matter which is or may become trade dress of the owner.The copyright and trade dress owner has no objection to the facsimilereproduction by any one of the patent disclosures as it appears in thePatent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwisereserves all copyright and trade dress rights whatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to pawn advancement games, and more particularlyto pawn advancement board games where multiple strategic techniquesdetermine pawn advancement.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

Pawn advancement games are well known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat.No. 6,523,827 issued on Feb. 25, 2003 to Watson teaches such a device.Such devices are made to allow players to make strategic choices toadvance their pawns as quickly as possible to a destination. However,despite the development of many approaches to pawn advancement games,these approaches often have significant limits.

U.S. Pat. No. 715,474 to Gaylor on Dec. 9, 1902, teaches a pawnadvancement board game where two players play against each other. Eachplayer starts with a line of pieces on one side of the board. The firstplayer who gets all of the player's pieces into the opponent's startingrow wins the game. However, this game has a limited number of rules andcan only be played by two players. Therefore, a game is needed thatallows for a greater variety of players and allows for a greater varietyof playing strategies to stimulate players and provide more reliance onthe skills of players.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,523,827 issued on Feb. 25, 2003 to Watson teaches a pawnadvancement board game with pegs and dice. The objective of the game isto be the first player to get all of the player's pegs into thehome-base row of the opponent on the opposite side of the board. Thegame includes the ability to play with more than two players andprovides some variations in pawn advancement. However, the variations inpawn advancement are limited to direct movement of each player's ownpawns based on the value of the dice rolled. Therefore, a game is neededthat allows for more stimulating alternatives of moving players' pawns.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,124,213 to Kaplowitz on Nov. 7, 1978 teaches a pawnadvancement board game apparatus with four sides so that four playerscan play. This game further teaches using playing pieces having fourdifferent colors and finishing zones with correspondingly matchingcolors. The Kaplowitz game provides an exciting alternative of movingplayer pawns by adding a second color to each playing piece. The secondcolor is used to indicate the current status of the playing piece,whether the piece is free to move or is frozen. However, this game onlyuses spotted dice and the advancement of the pieces is still limited tothe value of the rolled dice. Therefore, a game is needed that providesmore creative ways of using dice and provides an alternative to usingonly spotted dice.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,744 to Patracuolia on May 28, 1991 teaches a methodand apparatus for playing a two player board game where playing piecesare moved from a starting position to a destination zone. The playingpieces are two-sided and can be turned over to change the rank of thepiece. The Patracuolia game teaches the idea of each player using a setof dice having a corresponding color with the player's playing pieces.This game also teaches the use of a non-spotted “doubling-cube” die tokeep track of the stakes of the game, as is done in games likebackgammon. However, this game teaches away from using six-sided dicewith six different values and does not teach the use of a non-spotteddie to affect the movement of the playing pieces. In particular, thePatracuolia game does not teach the concept of using dice for players toassign the rolled values of spotted dice to other players. Therefore, agame is needed that uses non-spotted dice to assign values of the rolledspotted dice to other players.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,585,232 to Sheppard et al. on Apr. 29, 1986 teaches anautomobile board game having unique color coded dice. The game simulatesautomobile ownership and operation. The board game provides an innerplaying area and a peripheral playing area. The playing pieces arecontrolled by using dice having at least two different types of indicia,spots and color. The identity of the playing piece moved and the extentof movement is determined by rolled results of the dice color and numberof spots. This game provides a creative alternative method of movingplaying pieces. However, players must follow the rolled results of thedice determined by chance and players do not have the option to choosehow the rolled values are assigned. Therefore, a game is needed thatprovides players with greater strategic choice in how the rolled valuesof the dice are assigned to the playing pieces.

Therefore, there is a need for a pawn advancement game that allows for agreater variety of players and allows for a greater variety of playingstrategies to stimulate players and provide greater reliance on theskills of players. Clearly, a need exists for a game that allows formore stimulating alternatives of moving players' pawns. Such a gamewould provide more creative ways of using dice and provide analternative to using only spotted dice. Further, the needed game woulduse non-spotted dice to assign values of the rolled spotted dice toother players. Also, the game would provide players with greaterstrategic choice in how the rolled values of the dice are assigned tothe playing pieces. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present device is a board game for playing a variety of games andcomprises a playing board having a board surface with a plurality ofspaces in a central area of the playing board. The spaces form a gamegrid with a plurality of borders surrounding the game grid. Each borderhas a different color and has an OUT area, a YES area, a NO area, aWINNERS area, and a PLAY area.

A spotted die for each player is used for rolling. Each player's spotteddie matches the color of each player's designated border area. Anumbered die for each player is used for assigning values from thespotted dice to other players. Each player's numbered die matches thecolor of each player's designated border area. A rolling cup is used forrolling all spotted dice. Each player is provided at least one pawn withthe color of each player's pawn matching the color of each player'sborder area.

A plurality of games may be played on the playing board with each playerbeing assigned to a different colored border. Each player has anobjective to move each player's colored pawns across the game gridstarting from the player's border to the last line of the game gridfarthest away from the player's border. The advancement of each pawn isdetermined by the rolled values of the spotted dice, the assigned valuesof the numbered dice, and the switching of pawns when multiples of thespotted dice are rolled. Depending upon the rules selected by theplayers, the first player moving all of the player's pawns into theplayer's WINNERS area is declared the winner.

The present invention is a pawn advancement game that allows for agreater variety of players and allows for a greater variety of playingstrategies to stimulate players and provide greater reliance on theskills of players. Further, the present device is a game that allows formore stimulating alternatives of moving players' pawns. This inventionprovides more creative ways of using dice and provides an alternative tousing only spotted dice. Also, the present invention uses non-spotteddice to assign values of the rolled spotted dice to other players.Finally, the invention provides players with greater strategic choice inhow the rolled values of the dice are assigned to the playing pieces.Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following more detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way ofexample, the principles of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a playing board of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a rolling cup, a spotted die, a numbereddie, and a pawn; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a playing board, illustrating fourdifferent colors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. Thefollowing explanation provides specific details for a thoroughunderstanding of and enabling description for these embodiments. Oneskilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practicedwithout such details. In other instances, well-known structures andfunctions have not been shown or described in detail to avoidunnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout thedescription and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and thelike are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to anexclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of“including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or pluralnumber also include the plural or singular number respectively.Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below” and words of similarimport, when used in this application, shall refer to this applicationas a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Whenthe claims use the word “or” in reference to a list of two or moreitems, that word covers all of the following interpretations of theword: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list and anycombination of the items in the list.

With respect to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a board game 10. Theboard game 10 is for playing a plurality of games and comprises aplaying board 20 having a board surface 25 with a plurality of spaces 30in a central area 26 of the playing board 20. The spaces 30 form a gamegrid 40 with a plurality of borders 50 surrounding the game grid 40.Each border 50 has a different color and has an OUT area 51, a YES area52, a NO area 53, a WINNERS area 54, and a PLAY area 55. In a preferredembodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the number of borders 50 is exactlyfour. In another embodiment, the game grid 40 is preferably a pluralityof same sized squares 35. Preferably, the game grid 40 is exactlysixteen squares 35 wide and sixteen squares 35 long creating a game grid40 with a total of two-hundred fifty-six same sized squares 35.

The playing board 20 is preferably a rigid cardboard or other stockmaterial, preferably having fold lines (not shown) so as to allow theplaying board 20 to be folded to fit into a packaging box, or the like(not shown). The board surface 25 may be a printed paper stock adheredto the playing board 20, for example. The playing board 20 may also bemade of a flexible sheet material, such as paper, plastic, or fabric,and capable of being rolled and stored in a rolled position. Thoughphysical embodiments of the board game 10 are preferred, the board game10 and all elements of the invention are not limited to only physicalembodiments. The board game 10 further includes virtual embodiments ofthe invention, such as computer versions and online internet versions.Likewise, travel versions of the invention include portable physicalversions and portable computerized versions.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a spotted die 60 for each player is used forrolling. Each player's spotted die 60 matches the color of each player'sborder area 50. Also illustrated in FIG. 2, a numbered die 70 for eachplayer is used for assigning. Each player's numbered die 70 matches thecolor of each player's border area 50. In a preferred embodiment, eachspotted die 60 is a six-sided spotted die 65 with the values from one tosix. Also in FIG. 2, each numbered die 70 is preferably a six-sidednumbered die 75 with the values from one to six. Further illustrated inFIG. 2 is a rolling cup 80 for rolling all spotted die 60. In FIG. 2, atleast one pawn 90 for each player with the color of each player's pawn90 matching the color of each player's border area 50. The spotted die60, the numbered die 70, the rolling cup 80, and the pawn 90 can all bemade from a hard durable material, such as a hard plastic material,though other materials can be used such as wood or metal.

In FIG. 3, an embodiment of the board game 10 illustrates a playingboard 20 with four different colored borders 50. FIG. 3 furtherillustrates two different sets of pawns 90, spotted dice 60, andnumbered dice 70 with colors matching two different borders 50. In apreferred embodiment, the game grid 40 is preferably a light blue color.In another preferred embodiment of the board game 10 with four borders50, the four colors of the borders 50 include yellow, green, orange, andred, though different colors can be used in different embodiments.

A plurality of games may be played on the playing board 20 with eachplayer being assigned to a different colored border 50. Each player isprovided at least one pawn 90 of the same color as the assigned border50. Also, each player has an objective to move each player's coloredpawns 90 across the game grid 40 starting from the player's border 50 tothe last line of the game grid 40 farthest away from the player's border50. The advancement of each pawn 90 is determined by the rolled valuesof the spotted dice 60, the assigned values of the numbered dice 70, andthe switching of pawns 90 when multiples of the spotted dice 60 arerolled. Depending upon the rules selected by the players, the firstplayer moving all of the player's pawns 90 into the player's WINNERSarea 54 is declared the winner.

A first game may be played with the board game 10 with the followingsteps:

-   -   a) providing the board game 10;    -   b) instructing each player to be assigned to a different colored        border 50;    -   c) instructing each player to place the player's own pawns 90        into the player's own OUT area 51 with each player using the        same number of pawns 90;    -   d) instructing each player to roll each player's spotted die 60        to determine who is the first roller, with the player having the        highest roll becoming the roller starting the game and play        proceeding to the left after the first roller's turn;    -   e) instructing the roller to put all of the players' spotted        dice 60 into the rolling cup 80;    -   f) instructing the roller to roll the spotted dice 60 all at one        time;    -   g) instructing the roller to choose one spotted die 60 of any        color to use for the movement of only one of the roller's pawns        90;    -   h) instructing the roller to make a move with one of the        roller's pawns 90 and if none of the roller's pawns 90 can be        moved the entire turn is lost;    -   i) instructing that the roller has to roll a six to bring a pawn        90 into the PLAY area 55;    -   j) instructing that when the roller rolls a six on any spotted        die 60, the roller can use the six to move a pawn 90 from the        roller's OUT area 51 into the PLAY area 55;    -   k) instructing that if the roller has used a six on any spotted        die 60 to move a pawn 90 into the PLAY area 55 that pawn 90        cannot be moved onto the game grid 40 until the roller's next        turn;    -   l) instructing that if the roller has a pawn 90 already on the        game grid 40 or the PLAY area 55, the roller can choose to move        such pawns 90 on any turn;    -   m) instructing that the roller may move pawns 90 from one space        30 to another space 30 with each space 30 counting as one spot        on the chosen spotted die 60;    -   n) instructing that the roller may move pawns 90 forward, left        or right, but a pawn 90 can never be moved backwards or        diagonally;    -   o) instructing that the roller may not move a pawn 90 to a space        30 that the pawn 90 just left until the next turn;    -   p) instructing that the roller may use a six on a chosen spotted        die 60 to move a pawn 90 that is already on the game grid 40 if        the player wants to use the six that way instead of using the        six to bring another pawn 90 from the OUT area 51 into the PLAY        area 55;    -   q) instructing that the roller may use multiple sixes to bring        multiple pawns 90 into the PLAY area 55, but multiples can not        be used any other time to move more than one of the roller's own        pawns 90;    -   r) instructing that if the roller brings a pawn 90 or pawns 90        into the PLAY area 55, the roller cannot make any other moves        during that turn;    -   s) instructing the roller has to use all of the moves on the        chosen spotted die 60 with only one pawn 90, but the pawn 90 can        be moved sideways in one direction only to use up extra moves,        except to finish;    -   t) instructing that the roller can move a pawn 90 sideways for        any reason that the roller wants, but a pawn 90 can not be moved        sideways if the pawn 90 would be moving back into a space 30        that the pawn 90 just left, until the next turn;    -   u) instructing that the roller can start anywhere on the first        row of the game grid 40 on the roller's side and finish anywhere        on the last row of the game grid 40 on the opposite side of the        playing board 20;    -   v) instructing that a pawn 90 has to finish on the last row of        the game grid 40 by moving forward with an exact count and        cannot move sideways first to use up extra moves;    -   w) instructing that the starting space 30 is chosen when the        pawn 90 is brought onto the game grid 40 from the PLAY area 55        and the starting space 30 is counted as move one;    -   x) instructing that once the player removes the player's hand        from a pawn 90 that pawn 90 movement is complete and the player        is not allowed to change the move;    -   y) instructing that the object of the game is to go across the        game grid 40 to the opposite side;    -   z) instructing that a pawn 90 is finished when the pawn 90 lands        on any space 30 in the last line of the game grid 40 across from        where the pawn 90 started and the pawn 90 will be placed in the        WINNERS area 54 that matches the pawn's 90 color; and    -   aa) upon one player moving all of the player's pawns 90 into the        player's WINNERS area 54, that player has won the game.

The method of playing the first game may be enhanced by including anability to bump other player's pawns 90 with the following steps of:

-   -   a) instructing that if more than one player is playing, the        roller can bump other players' pawns 90 back to the PLAY area        55;    -   b) instructing that the roller does not have to end the roller's        move exactly on a space 30 with another pawn 90 to bump it, but        the roller's pawn 90 has to pass over the space 30 with the        bumped pawn 90 during the move and if there are any more spots        on the chosen spotted die 60, the rest of the move has to be        made after the bump;    -   c) instructing that the bumped space 30 counts as a spot on the        chosen spotted die 60;    -   d) instructing that bumping another player's pawn 90 can be done        by moving sideways in one direction only, if the roller wants        to;    -   e) instructing that if the roller moves over a space 30 or lands        on a space 30 with another pawn 90 of a different color, the        other pawn 90 is bumped whether or not the roller wants the pawn        90 bumped;    -   f) instructing that the roller cannot bump the roller's own pawn        90 and cannot share a space 30 with any other pawn 90 including        one of the roller's other pawns 90;    -   g) instructing that sharing a space 30 would cause a bump;    -   h) instructing that a roller can not pass over one of the        roller's own pawns 90 as this would be a bump;    -   i) instructing that a roller can go around another pawn 90 by        moving sideways in one direction only, to avoid a bump or to get        around the roller's own pawn; and    -   j) instructing that a roller can bump more than one pawn 90 in a        single move.

An example of bumping will provide additional clarification. If the redplayer rolled a six and there was a yellow pawn 90 two spaces 30 aheadand an orange pawn 90 five spaces 30 ahead, the red player could movesix spaces 30, bumping both the other players on the way.

The method of playing the first game may be further enhanced byincluding an ability to assign the value of spotted dice 60 to otherplayers with the following steps of:

-   -   a) instructing that after the roller chooses the value of one of        the spotted dice 60 to use for the roller's own pawn 90 move,        the roller can choose to assign the values of the other spotted        dice 60 to the other players;    -   b) instructing that assignments are tracked with the numbered        dice 70 by each player being assigned a value, turning that        player's own numbered die 70 to the value being assigned by the        roller, and moving the numbered die 70 from the YES area 52 to        that player's PLAY area 55;    -   c) instructing that when a player's turn comes and the player        has a numbered die 70 in the PLAY area 55 with an assigned        value, the player does not get to roll, but has to move        according to the assigned value;    -   d) instructing that after a player has played the assigned value        the player moves the player's numbered die 70 to the NO area 53        to show that the assigned value has been used and the player        cannot be assigned a value for the next round;    -   e) instructing that any player without an assigned value would        roll as usual when it is that player's turn;    -   f) instructing that an assignment can not be done to a player        unless that player has at least one pawn 90 on the game grid 40        or in the PLAY area 55;    -   g) instructing that any value can be assigned or ignored by the        roller, the decision is the roller's choice only;    -   h) instructing that values of the spotted dice 60 can only be        assigned based on matching colors and the roller can only assign        the value of a colored spotted die 60 to a player with the same        color of pawns,    -   i) instructing that the roller cannot assign the value of the        roller's own spotted die 60 to another player;    -   j) instructing that if the roller uses a value from another        player's colored spotted die 60 for the roller's move that value        cannot be assigned to another player;    -   k) instructing that each player can only be assigned a value for        one turn at a time, after being assigned a value that player has        to be allowed a turn to roll before that player can be assigned        a value again, ensuring that each player is allowed to roll at        least every other round; and    -   l) instructing that at the beginning of a new roll, if the        roller's numbered die 70 is in the NO area 53, the numbered die        70 must be moved to the YES area 52, indicating that the roller        can be assigned a value during the next round.

An example of assigning will provide additional clarification. Forinstance, there are four players and green rolls. A six is rolled on thegreen spotted die 60, a one is on the red spotted die 60, a two is onthe orange spotted die 60 and a three is on the yellow spotted die 60.The roller can use the six on the green spotted die 60 for the roller,assign the one to the red player, assign the two to the orange playerand assign the three to the yellow player. The red player would turn thered numbered die 70 to the number one and move it from the YES area 52to the red PLAY area 55. Each of the other players would do the samething with each player's own color numbered die 70, setting the numbereddie 70 to the number that the player was assigned and moving theirnumbered die 70 to the PLAY area 55. The roller cannot assign the valueof a red spotted die 60 to the yellow player. The roller can also notgive the roller's own number to another player. For example if theorange player rolls a one on the orange spotted die 60, the value of theorange spotted die 60 cannot be assigned to any of the other players.

The method of playing the first game may be further enhanced byincluding the additional step of overriding as follows:

-   -   a) instructing that a subsequent roller can assign a new value        to a player who already has a value currently assigned to that        player's numbered die 70.

An example of overriding will provide additional clarification. Forinstance, the yellow player rolls a yellow four, an orange six, a greenthree and a red one. The yellow player uses the six, assigns the threeto green and the one to red. Orange rolls next and rolls a green one.Orange can choose to assign the one to green, forcing green to give upthe three that was assigned by yellow. When green's turn comes, greenhas to move the one because one is the last number assigned to green.

The method of playing the first game may be further enhanced byincluding an ability to switch the location of players' pawns 90 withthe following steps of:

-   -   a) instructing that if two-of-a-kind, three-of-a-kind or        four-of-kind is rolled this is called a multiple and pawn 90        switching can be done;    -   b) instructing that any spotted die 60 that has a value matching        any of the other spotted dice 60 is part of the multiple and        each pawn 90 of the same color as one of the spotted dice 60 in        the multiple can be switched by the roller;    -   c) instructing that the roller switches two pawns 90 of        different colors by moving the first pawn 90 to the original        location of the second pawn 90 and moving the second pawn 90 to        the original location of the first pawn 90;    -   d) instructing that any spotted die 60 that has a number that        does not match any of the other spotted dice 60 is not part of        the multiple and any player with a pawn 90 of that color cannot        be forced to switch;    -   e) instructing that the roller can switch one of the roller's        own pawns 90 only if the color of the roller's pawn 90 matches        one of the spotted dice 60 in the multiple;    -   f) instructing that the roller does not have to do any switching        if the roller does not want to switch;    -   g) instructing that the roller can choose any two colors of the        spotted dice 60 in the multiple and can switch the places of two        pawns 90 having the chosen two colors;    -   h) instructing that the roller gets to choose which pawns 90 are        switched even for the other player's pawns 90;    -   i) instructing that switching is considered a move by the roller        if the roller switches the roller's own pawn 90 with another        player's pawn 90;    -   j) instructing that if the roller switches other players' pawns        90 but does not switch the roller's own pawn 90 then the roller        would still have to use another spotted die 60 to move the        roller's own pawn 90;    -   k) instructing that any spotted die's 60 value not used in some        other way can be assigned by the roller to the player with the        matching color numbered die 70;    -   l) instructing that a switch can not move any pawn 90 into the        OUT area 51 or into the WINNERS area 54;    -   m) instructing that a switch can not move any pawn 90 out of the        OUT area 51 or out of the WINNERS area 54;    -   n) instructing that the player can switch a pawn 90 on the game        grid 40 with a pawn 90 in a PLAY area 55 by moving the pawn 90        in the PLAY area 55 to the place where the pawn 90 on the game        grid 40 is located and the pawn 90 on the game grid 40 is moved        back to that pawn's corresponding colored PLAY area 55; and    -   o) instructing that a roller cannot put a pawn 90 of a        particular color into the PLAY area 55 of a different color.

An example of switching will provide additional clarification. Forinstance, if red has rolled a multiple with a red spotted die 60 and ayellow spotted die 60 having the same value, red can switch one of red'spawns 90 with one of yellow's pawns 90. If red has a pawn 90 in the redPLAY area 55 and wants to switch with a yellow pawn 90 on the game grid40, then the yellow pawn 90 would be moved back to yellow's PLAY area55. The red pawn 90 would then take the space 30 where the yellow pawn90 had been on the game grid 40. If red wants to switch a red pawn 90 onthe game grid 40 with a yellow pawn 90 on the game grid 40, the red pawn90 is placed into the space 30 where the yellow pawn 90 is sitting andthe yellow pawn 90 is then moved to the space 30 where the red pawn 90had been.

The method of playing the first game may be further enhanced byincluding an ability to form teams with the following steps of:

-   -   a) instructing that the game can also be played with partners        forming teams;    -   b) instructing that the first player to get all of that player's        pawns 90 into the WINNERS area 54 wins the game for that        player's team;    -   c) instructing that a player's bumps, assignments and switches        can be used to assist a player's own partner or slow down the        other team's players;    -   d) instructing that the roller can still not assign the value of        the player's own spotted die 60 to another player not even the        player's partner;    -   e) instructing that partners have to play across from each other        and not next to each other; and    -   f) instructing that partners are not allowed to discuss strategy        during the game.

The method of playing the first game may be further enhanced byfollowing the additional steps of:

-   -   a) instructing that the length of time needed to play the game        can be varied by using fewer pawns 90 for each player;    -   b) instructing that the length of time needed to play the game        can be varied by using fewer players; and    -   c) instructing that the game can be made easier and shorter by        not doing bumping, assigning or switching.

Providing variations to play a shorter or easier game is especiallyuseful when playing with young children. Playing with a total of eightto nine pawns 90 will make the game last about one hour for a game grid40 with two hundred fifty six squares 35 if bumping, assigning andswitching are all included.

An additional game for a single player may be played with the board game10 with the following steps of:

-   -   a) providing the board game 10;    -   b) instructing using only one player;    -   c) instructing the player plays by score;    -   d) instructing the player to be assigned to a colored border 50;    -   e) instructing the player to select one or more pawns 90        matching the color of the player's border 50;    -   f) instructing the player to place the player's pawns 90 into        the player's OUT area 51;    -   g) instructing the player to use only one spotted die 60;    -   h) instructing the player be the permanent roller and to take        continuous turns rolling the spotted die 60 until game play is        finished;    -   i) instructing that the roller has to roll a six to bring a pawn        90 into the PLAY area 55;    -   j) instructing that when the roller rolls a six, the roller can        use the six to move a pawn 90 from the roller's OUT area 51 into        the PLAY area 55;    -   k) instructing that if the roller has a pawn 90 already on the        game grid 40 or the PLAY area 55, the roller can choose to move        such pawns 90 on any turn;    -   l) instructing that the roller may move pawns 90 from one space        30 to another space 30 with each space 30 counting as one spot        on the spotted die 60;    -   m) instructing that the roller may move pawns 90 forward, left        or right, but a pawn 90 can never be moved backwards or        diagonally;    -   n) instructing that the roller may not move a pawn 90 to a space        30 that the pawn 90 just left until the next roll;    -   o) instructing that the roller may use a six to move a pawn 90        that is already on the game grid 40 if the player wants to use        the six that way instead of using the six to bring another pawn        90 from the OUT area 51 into the PLAY area 55;    -   p) instructing the roller has to use all of the moves on the        spotted die 60 with only one pawn 90, but the pawn 90 can be        moved sideways in one direction only to use up extra moves,        except to finish;    -   q) instructing that the roller can move a pawn 90 sideways for        any reason that the roller wants, but a pawn 90 can not be moved        sideways if the pawn 90 would be moving back into a space 30        that the pawn 90 just left until the next roll;    -   r) instructing that the roller can start anywhere on the first        row of the game grid 40 on the roller's side and finish anywhere        on the last row of the game grid 40 on the opposite side of the        playing board 20;    -   s) instructing that a pawn 90 has to finish on the last row of        the game grid 40 by moving forward with an exact count and        cannot move sideways first to use up extra moves;    -   t) instructing that the starting space 30 is chosen when the        pawn 90 is brought onto the game grid 40 from the PLAY area 55        and the starting space 30 is counted as move one;    -   u) instructing that once the player removes the player's hand        from a pawn 90 that pawn 90 movement is complete and the player        is not allowed to change the move;    -   v) instructing that the object of the game is to go across the        game grid 40 to the opposite side;    -   w) instructing that a pawn 90 is finished when the pawn 90 lands        on any space 30 in the last line of the game grid 40 across from        where the pawn 90 started and the pawn 90 will be placed in the        WINNERS area 54 that matches the pawn's 90 color;    -   x) upon the player moving all of the player's pawns 90 into the        player's WINNERS area 54 the game play is finished;    -   y) instructing that the score is tallied by counting the number        of rolls used to have all pawns 90 reach the opposite side of        the playing board 20; and    -   z) instructing that the objective of the game is to obtain the        lowest score possible depending on the number of pawns 90 used        and the size of the game grid 40.

While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it will be apparent that various modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Forexample, a hexagonal version of the game can be made to include sixdifferent colored borders 50 to allow six players to play at the sametime. Also, more or fewer spaces 30 can be used to create a longer orshorter version of the game. Likewise, to create a longer or shorterversion of the game, more or fewer pawns 90 can be used, as well as dice60,70 with more or fewer sides can be used. In addition, differentcolors and patterns can be used to distinguish the different borders 50,pawns 90, and dice 60,70. Accordingly, it is not intended that theinvention be limited, except as by the appended claims. While theinvention has been illustrated and described, the invention is notlimited to the details shown, since it will be understood that variousomissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms anddetails of the device illustrated and its operation can be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of thepresent invention.

The teachings provided herein can be applied to other systems, notnecessarily the system described herein. The elements and acts of thevarious embodiments described above can be combined to provide furtherembodiments. All of the above patents and applications and otherreferences, including any that may be listed in accompanying filingpapers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the inventioncan be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, andconcepts of the various references described above to provide yetfurther embodiments of the invention.

These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of theabove Detailed Description. While the above description details certainembodiments of the invention and describes the best mode contemplated,no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention can bepracticed in many ways. Details of the system may vary considerably inits implementation details, while still being encompassed by theinvention disclosed herein.

Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspectsof the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology isbeing redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics,features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology isassociated. In general, the terms used in the following claims shouldnot be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodimentsdisclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Descriptionsection explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope ofthe invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but alsoall equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention.

The above detailed description of the embodiments of the invention isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the preciseform disclosed above or to the particular field of usage mentioned inthis disclosure. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, theinvention are described above for illustrative purposes, variousequivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention,as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. Also, the teachingsof the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, notnecessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of thevarious embodiments described above can be combined to provide furtherembodiments.

All of the above patents and applications and other references,including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, areincorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can bemodified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and conceptsof the various references described above to provide yet furtherembodiments of the invention.

Changes can be made to the invention in light of the above “DetailedDescription.” While the above description details certain embodiments ofthe invention and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter howdetailed the above appears in text, the invention can be practiced inmany ways. Therefore, implementation details may vary considerably whilestill being encompassed by the invention disclosed herein. As notedabove, particular terminology used when describing certain features oraspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that theterminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specificcharacteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which thatterminology is associated.

In general, the terms used in the following claims should not beconstrued to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosedin the specification, unless the above Detailed Description sectionexplicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of theinvention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also allequivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention under theclaims.

While certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certainclaim forms, the inventor contemplates the various aspects of theinvention in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the inventorreserves the right to add additional claims after filing the applicationto pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of theinvention.

1. A board game for playing a plurality of games, comprising: a playingboard having a board surface with a plurality of spaces in a centralarea forming a game grid and a plurality of borders surrounding the gamegrid with each border having a different color and each border having anOUT area, a YES area, a NO area, a WINNERS area, and a PLAY area; aspotted die for each player, used for rolling, with the spotted diematching the color of each player's border area; a numbered die for eachplayer, used for assigning, with the numbered die matching the color ofeach player's border area; a rolling cup; at least one pawn for eachplayer with the color of each player's pawn matching the color of eachplayer's border area; whereby a plurality of games may be played on theplaying board with each player being assigned to a different coloredborder, each player provided at least one pawn of the same color as theassigned border, and each player having an objective to move eachplayer's colored pawns across the game grid starting from the player'sborder to the last line of the game grid farthest away from the player'sborder with the advancement of each pawn determined by the rolled valuesof the spotted dice, the assigned values of the numbered dice, and theswitching of pawns when multiples of the spotted dice are rolled.
 2. Theboard game of claim 1 wherein the number of borders is exactly four. 3.The board game of claim 2 wherein the game grid is a plurality of samesized squares.
 4. The board game of claim 3 wherein the game grid isexactly sixteen squares wide and sixteen squares long creating a gamegrid with a total of 256 same sized squares.
 5. The board game of claim4 wherein each spotted die is a six-sided spotted die with the valuesfrom one to six and each numbered die is a six-sided numbered die withthe values from one to six.
 6. A method of playing a first gamecomprising the steps of: a) providing the board game as recited in claim1; b) instructing each player to be assigned to a different coloredborder; c) instructing each player to place the player's own pawns intothe player's own OUT area with each player using the same number ofpawns; d) instructing each player to roll each player's spotted die todetermine who is the first roller, with the player having the highestroll becoming the roller starting the game and play proceeding to theleft after the first roller's turn; e) instructing the roller to put allof the players' spotted dice into the rolling cup; f) instructing theroller to roll the spotted dice all at one time; g) instructing theroller to choose one spotted die of any color to use for the movement ofonly one of the roller's pawns; h) instructing the roller to make a movewith one of the roller's pawns and if none of the roller's pawns can bemoved the entire turn is lost; i) instructing that the roller has toroll a six to bring a pawn into the PLAY area; j) instructing that whenthe roller rolls a six on any spotted die, the roller can use the six tomove a pawn from the roller's OUT area into the PLAY area; k)instructing that if the roller has used a six on any spotted die to movea pawn into the PLAY area that pawn cannot be moved onto the game griduntil the roller's next turn; l) instructing that if the roller has apawn already on the game grid or the PLAY area, the roller can choose tomove such pawns on any turn; m) instructing that the roller may movepawns from one space to another space with each space counting as onespot on the chosen spotted die; n) instructing that the roller may movepawns forward, left or right, but a pawn can never be moved backwards ordiagonally; o) instructing that the roller may not move a pawn to aspace that the pawn just left until the next turn; p) instructing thatthe roller may use a six on a chosen spotted die to move a pawn that isalready on the game grid if the player wants to use the six that wayinstead of using the six to bring another pawn from the OUT area intothe PLAY area; q) instructing that the roller may use multiple sixes tobring multiple pawns into the PLAY area, but multiples can not be usedany other time to move more than one of the roller's own pawns; r)instructing that if the roller brings a pawn or pawns into the PLAYarea, the roller cannot make any other moves during that turn; s)instructing the roller has to use all of the moves on the chosen spotteddie with only one pawn, but the pawn can be moved sideways, in onedirection only, to use up extra moves, except to finish; t) instructingthat the roller can move a pawn sideways for any reason that the rollerwants, but a pawn can not be moved sideways if the pawn would be movingback into a space that the pawn just left, until the next turn; u)instructing that the roller can start anywhere on the first row of thegame grid on the roller's side and finish anywhere on the last row ofthe game grid on the opposite side of the playing board; v) instructingthat a pawn has to finish on the last row of the game grid by movingforward with an exact count and cannot move sideways first to use upextra moves; w) instructing that the starting space is chosen when thepawn is brought onto the game grid from the PLAY area and the startingspace is counted as move one; x) instructing that once the playerremoves the player's hand from a pawn that pawn movement is complete andthe player is not allowed to change the move; y) instructing that theobject of the game is to go across the game grid to the opposite side;z) instructing that a pawn is finished when the pawn lands on any spacein the last line of the game grid across from where the pawn started andthe pawn will be placed in the WINNERS area that matches the pawn'scolor; and aa) upon one player moving all of the player's pawns into theplayer's WINNERS area, that player has won the game.
 7. The method ofplaying the first game of claim 6 further including the following stepsof: a) instructing that if more than one player is playing, the rollercan bump other players' pawns back to the PLAY area; b) instructing thatthe roller does not have to end the roller's move exactly on a spacewith another pawn to bump it, but the roller's pawn has to pass over thespace with the bumped pawn during the move and if there are any morespots on the chosen spotted die, the rest of the move has to be madeafter the bump; c) instructing that the bumped space counts as a spot onthe chosen spotted die; d) instructing that bumping another player'spawn can be done by moving sideways in one direction only if the rollerwants to; e) instructing that if the roller moves over a space or landson a space with another pawn of a different color, the other pawn isbumped whether or not the roller wants the pawn bumped; f) instructingthat the roller cannot bump the roller's own pawn and cannot share aspace with any other pawn including one of the roller's other pawns; g)instructing that sharing a space would cause a bump; h) instructing thata roller can not pass over one of the roller's own pawns as this wouldbe a bump; i) instructing that a roller can go around another pawn bymoving sideways in one direction only to avoid a bump or to get aroundthe roller's own pawn; and j) instructing that a roller can bump morethan one pawn in a single move.
 8. The method of playing the first gameof claim 7 further including the following steps of: a) instructing thatafter the roller chooses the value of one of the spotted dice to use forthe roller's own pawn move, the roller can choose to assign the valuesof the other spotted dice to the other players; b) instructing thatassignments are tracked with the numbered dice by each player beingassigned a value turning that player's own numbered die to the valuebeing assigned by the roller and moving the numbered die from the YESarea to that player's PLAY area; c) instructing that when a player'sturn comes and the player has a numbered die in the PLAY area with anassigned value, the player does not get to roll, but has to moveaccording to the assigned value; d) instructing that after a player hasplayed the assigned value the player moves the player's numbered die tothe NO area to show that the assigned value has been used and the playercannot be assigned a value for the next round; e) instructing that anyplayer without an assigned value would roll as usual when it is thatplayer's turn; f) instructing that an assignment can not be done to aplayer unless that player has at least one pawn on the game grid or inthe PLAY area; g) instructing that any value can be assigned or ignoredby the roller, the decision is the roller's choice only; h) instructingthat values of the spotted dice can only be assigned based on matchingcolors and the roller can only assign the value of a colored spotted dieto a player with the same color of pawns; i) instructing that the rollercannot assign the value of the roller's own spotted die to anotherplayer; j) instructing that if the roller uses a value from anotherplayer's colored spotted die for the roller's move that value cannot beassigned to another player; k) instructing that each player can only beassigned a value for one turn at a time, after being assigned a valuethat player has to be allowed a turn to roll before that player can beassigned a value again, ensuring that each player is allowed to roll atleast every other round; and l) instructing that at the beginning of anew roll, if the roller's numbered die is in the NO area, the numbereddie must be moved to the YES area, indicating that the roller can beassigned a value during the next round.
 9. The method of playing thefirst game of claim 8 further including the following step of: a)instructing that a subsequent roller can assign a new value to a playerwho already has a value currently assigned to that player's numbereddie.
 10. The method of playing the first game of claim 9 furtherincluding the following steps of: a) instructing that if two-of-a-kind,three-of-a-kind or four-of-kind is rolled this is called a multiple andpawn switching can be done; b) instructing that any spotted die that hasa value matching any of the other spotted dice is part of the multipleand each pawn of the same color as one of the spotted dice in themultiple can be switched by the roller; c) instructing that the rollerswitches two pawns of different colors by moving the first pawn to thelocation of the second pawn and moving the second pawn to the originallocation of the first pawn; d) instructing that any spotted die that hasa number that does not match any of the other spotted dice is not partof the multiple and any player with a pawn of that color cannot beforced to switch; e) instructing that the roller can switch one of theroller's own pawns only if the color of the roller's pawn matches one ofthe spotted dice in the multiple; f) instructing that the roller doesnot have to do any switching if the roller does not want to switch; g)instructing that the roller can choose any two colors of the spotteddice in the multiple and can switch the places of two pawns having thechosen two colors; h) instructing that the roller gets to choose whichpawns are switched even for the other player's pawns; i) instructingthat switching is considered a move by the roller if the roller switchesthe roller's own pawn with another player's pawn; j) instructing that ifthe roller switches other players' pawns but does not switch theroller's own pawn then the roller would still have to use anotherspotted die to move the roller's own pawn; k) instructing that anyspotted die's value not used in some other way can be assigned by theroller to the player with the matching color numbered die; l)instructing that a switch can not move any pawn into the OUT area orinto the WINNERS area; m) instructing that a switch can not move anypawn out of the OUT area or out of the WINNERS area; n) instructing thatthe player can switch a pawn on the game grid with a pawn in a PLAY areaby moving the pawn in the PLAY area to the place where the pawn on thegame grid is located and the pawn on the game grid is moved back to thatpawn's corresponding colored PLAY area; and o) instructing that a rollercannot put a pawn of a particular color into the PLAY area of adifferent color.
 11. The method of playing the first game of claim 10further including the following steps of: a) instructing that the gamecan also be played with partners forming teams; b) instructing that thefirst player to get all of that player's pawns into the WINNERS areawins the game for that player's team; c) instructing that a player'sbumps, assignments and switches can be used to assist a player's ownpartner or slow down the other team's players; d) instructing that theroller can still not assign the value of the player's own spotted die toanother player not even the player's partner; e) instructing thatpartners have to play across from each other and not next to each other;and f) instructing that partners are not allowed to discuss strategyduring the game.
 12. The method of playing the first game of claim 11further including the following steps of: a) instructing that the lengthof time needed to play the game can be varied by using fewer pawns foreach player; b) instructing that the length of time needed to play thegame can be varied by using fewer players; and c) instructing that thegame can be made easier and shorter by not doing bumping, assigning orswitching.
 13. A method of playing an additional game comprising thesteps of: a) providing the board game as recited in claim 1; b)instructing using only one player; c) instructing the player plays byscore; d) instructing the player to be assigned to a colored border; e)instructing the player to select one or more pawns matching the color ofthe player's border; f) instructing the player to place the player'spawns into the player's OUT area; g) instructing the player to use onlyone spotted die; h) instructing the player be the permanent roller andto take continuous turns rolling the spotted die until game play isfinished; i) instructing that the roller has to roll a six to bring apawn into the PLAY area; j) instructing that when the roller rolls asix, the roller can use the six to move a pawn from the roller's OUTarea into the PLAY area; k) instructing that if the roller has a pawnalready on the game grid or the PLAY area, the roller can choose to movesuch pawns on any turn; l) instructing that the roller may move pawnsfrom one space to another space with each space counting as one spot onthe spotted die; m) instructing that the roller may move pawns forward,left or right, but a pawn can never be moved backwards or diagonally; n)instructing that the roller may not move a pawn to a space that the pawnjust left until the next roll; o) instructing that the roller may use asix to move a pawn that is already on the game grid if the player wantsto use the six that way instead of using the six to bring another pawnfrom the OUT area into the PLAY area; p) instructing the roller has touse all of the moves on the spotted die with only one pawn, but the pawncan be moved sideways, in one direction only, to use up extra moves,except to finish; q) instructing that the roller can move a pawnsideways for any reason that the roller wants, but a pawn can not bemoved sideways if the pawn would be moving back into a space that thepawn just left until the next roll; r) instructing that the roller canstart anywhere on the first row of the game grid on the roller's sideand finish anywhere on the last row of the game grid on the oppositeside of the playing board; s) instructing that a pawn has to finish onthe last row of the game grid by moving forward with an exact count andcannot move sideways first to use up extra moves; t) instructing thatthe starting space is chosen when the pawn is brought onto the game gridfrom the PLAY area and the starting space is counted as move one; u)instructing that once the player removes the player's hand from a pawnthat pawn movement is complete and the player is not allowed to changethe move; v) instructing that the object of the game is to go across thegame grid to the opposite side; w) instructing that a pawn is finishedwhen the pawn lands on any space in the last line of the game gridacross from where the pawn started and the pawn will be placed in theWINNERS area that matches the pawn's color; x) upon the player movingall of the player's pawns into the player's WINNERS area the game playis finished; y) instructing that the score is tallied by counting thenumber of rolls used to have all pawns reach the opposite side of theplaying board; and z) instructing that the objective of the game is toobtain the lowest score possible depending on the number of pawns usedand the size of the game grid.